Aeroplane motor



March 31. 1925.

J. REITER AEROPLANE MOTOR Filed Sept. 30, 1921 Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

JOSEPH REI'IER,"OF CORONA, NEW YORK.

.nnnorrann Moron.

Application filed September 30, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, "JOSEPH Rnrrnn, a citizen of the United States,residingat Corona, Long Island, in the county *of Queens and State ofNew York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inAeroplane Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to power mechanisms arranged in a plurality ofunits, having particular reference to the means for controlling theadmission of motive fluid to the engines of said mechanisms.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved control means ofnovel construction adapted for supplying the motive fluid in alternationto certain of the units.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invent-ion are more particularly setforth.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view showing thearrangement of the different power units.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional elevation of the change mechanism foralternately starting and stopping the different propelling units.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section on the line 44 ofFig. 2.

I have here shown the invention applied to a number of engines, ashereshown ten, two of which numbered 18 in the drawings, are adapted torun continuously and drive, through forwardly extending shafts 19, screwpropellers 20 of usual type.

The other eight engines are adapted to operate four at a time, automaticmeans being provided for stopping and starting each series inalternation. @ne series comprises a pair of engines 22 having rearwardlyextending propeller shafts 23, and a sec ond pair of engines 24 havingforwardly extending propeller shafts 25. The other series comprises apair of engines 26 having rearwardly extending propeller shafts 27, anda second pair 28 having forwardly extending propeller shafts 29. Theshafts 23, 25, 27, 29 each have a plurality of screw propellers mountedthereon, the propellers on the respective shafts being numbered 30,

Serial No. 504,307.

31, 32 and '33. The engines and propeller shafts may be supported by 1 asuitable f'rame'34. v y

For operating the two series of engines in alternationl provide thefollowing means, see particularly Figs. 2 to 4: An electric motor 35,which may be operated from a suitable battery, drives a shaft 36 througha suitable reducing gearing which here comprises a worm pinion 37 on themotor shaft meshing with a worm gear 38 on a transverse shaft to whichis fixed a worm pinion 39 meshing With a worm gear 40 fixed to shaft 36.

To control the supply of combustible fluid to the engines a cam disk 42is fixed on shaft 86 and has its periphery equally cireumferentiallydivided into high and low surfaces 43 and 44. This cam disk is engagedby one end of a lever 45 fulcrumed between its ends as at 46 toasuitably fixed part and having a gear segment 47 on its other end. Thissegment 47 meshes with a gear 48 fixed to the stem of a throttle valve49 controlling the feed pipe 50 from the carburettor 50 of one series ofengines. Gear 48 meshes with a second gear 51 fixed to the stem of avalve 52 controlling the feed pipe 53 from the carburettor 53 of theother series of engines. A spring 45 normally ur es the lever againstthe cam disk 42. It will be apparent that the two feed pipes to therespective series of engines will alternately open and closeautomatically. The parts just described be enclosed in a box 70.

lVhen the invention is applied to internal combustion engines, such asare used in driving aeroplanes, the engines may be provided with selfstarters of usual type which are not here shown, and to control theseself starters I provide on shaft 36 a fixed cam disk 55 similar to disk42 and having high and low peripheral elements each extending half waytherearound. Hinged at one end adjacent this disk 55 as at 56 is acontact arm 57 having an ofiset lug 58 which is pressed against the disk55 by a spring 59. The free end of this contact arm projects between apair of fixed contacts 60 and 61 which latter are wired to therespective series of engines.

As will be apparent, each. time shaft 36 series. With this arrangementtendency of the engines to overheat is prevented and the length ofnonstop flights when the invention is embodied in the propelling plantof an aeroplane which may be made is increased.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: I

In combination with a pair of engines, motive fluid feed pipes leadingto the respecive engines, valves on said pipes and means forautomatically controlling said valves to cause the fluid to be fed inalternation to the respective engines, said means comprising acontinuously rotating shaft, a cam fixed on said shaft, and an operativeconnection between said cam and said valves, comprising a lever engagingsaid cam and having a gear segment on one end, and meshing gears on therespective valves, one of said gears meshing with said segments.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. I

JOSEPH REITER.

